Cephalad Migration of Permanent Thread Fragments Following Nose Augmentation by Thread.
4 affiliations
- 1From the View Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 2Yonsei E1 Plastic Surgery Clinic, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
- 3Medical Research Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 4You and I Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
Thread lifting is commonly used for minimally invasive facial rejuvenation, yet thread migration remains a rare and underrecognized complication. Identifying the mechanical and material factors contributing to migration is essential for safe management. Permanent thread migration can occur years after implantation and may be overlooked when thread composition is unknown or inaccurately recalled. Awareness of barb biomechanics and muscular traction patterns is critical for timely diagnosis and appropriate management of similar complications. A 54-year-old woman presented with forehead irregularity and a palpable firm mass in the glabella five years after undergoing thread-based nasal augmentation. Surgical exploration revealed eight migrated thread fragments (2 blue and 6 transparent) located along the glabella and forehead. Nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR) analysis identified the material as a polypropylene-polylactic acid copolymer, indicating that permanent threads had been inserted. Repetitive contraction of the procerus and frontalis muscles, combined with unidirectional barb orientation, likely facilitated cephalad migration.
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BibTeX
@article{yun2026cephalad,
title = {{Cephalad Migration of Permanent Thread Fragments Following Nose Augmentation by Thread.}},
author = {Chang Woon Yun and Won Lee and Suyeon Lee and Kyu-Ho Yi},
journal = {Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1097/gox.0000000000008230},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43012028},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cephalad Migration of Permanent Thread Fragments Following Nose Augmentation by Thread.
AU - Chang Woon Yun
AU - Won Lee
AU - Suyeon Lee
AU - Kyu-Ho Yi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/10
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open
DO - 10.1097/gox.0000000000008230
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/43012028
AB - Thread lifting is commonly used for minimally invasive facial rejuvenation, yet thread migration remains a rare and underrecognized complication. Identifying the mechanical and material factors contributing to migration is essential for safe management. Permanent thread migration can occur years after implantation and may be overlooked when thread composition is unknown or inaccurately recalled. Awareness of barb biomechanics and muscular traction patterns is critical for timely diagnosis and appropriate management of similar complications. A 54-year-old woman presented with forehead irregularity and a palpable firm mass in the glabella five years after undergoing thread-based nasal augmentation. Surgical exploration revealed eight migrated thread fragments (2 blue and 6 transparent) located along the glabella and forehead. Nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR) analysis identified the material as a polypropylene-polylactic acid copolymer, indicating that permanent threads had been inserted. Repetitive contraction of the procerus and frontalis muscles, combined with unidirectional barb orientation, likely facilitated cephalad migration.
SN - 2169-7574
ER -